Effect on SACC:This is a minor
proposal, as minor as they get, that I’ve just never gotten around to doing –
tweak the linear sequence in Fregata
slightly to make our sequence reflect phylogenetic data.

Background:Our current SACC
footnote is as follows:

16. Genetic data (Kennedy &
Spencer 2004) indicate that Fregata ariel is basal to all other species
in the genus.Proposal
needed to change linear sequence.

Our current
sequence, which follows a traditional sequence of uncertain origin, is:

New information:Kennedy and Spencer
(2004) sequenced ca. 1750 bp of mtDNA (4 loci) to produce the following tree.As you can see, F. ariel is sister to all other Fregata,
with strong support:

Analysis
and Recommendation:All we have to do to follow standard conventions of linear sequencing by
moving F. ariel to the beginning of
the sequence to make it correspond to the only solid phylogenetic data that I’m
aware of for the family, so in the interests of proper bookkeeping, I recommend
a YES.